BMW F49 X1 long-wheelbase spotted in the snow

The new BMW X1 F48 will be officially revealed at the 2015 Frankfurt Auto Show, but in the mean time, the first child of the …

The new BMW X1 F48 will be officially revealed at the 2015 Frankfurt Auto Show, but in the mean time, the first child of the new compact SUV, is already being tested: In Scandinavia, the work on the BMW X1 long wheelbase version F49 has begun, because the small off-roader – just like the 3 Series and 5 Series Sedan – also come in a version with an extended wheelbase.

BMW has yet to confirm, but most likely the BMW X1 long version is aimed primarily at the Chinese market. According to our information, the F49 X1 is about 11 centimeters longer than the standard model.

The UKL platform also dictates the positioning of engines. Under the hood, the three and four-cylinder engines are mounted transversely hence there is not enough space for six-cylinder engines.

The design shops in Munich and California have competed for the honor to have their idea put into production, and according to our sources and some secret photos, the new BMW X1 is quite a looker.

While the first X1 was mostly popular thanks to its attractive price point and fun driving dynamics, the second-gen X1 will stand out on the road with its sporty and muscular stance. BMW designers have worked hard to give the car a more premium look by using the latest design techniques as seen in the F16 X6 or even the new X4.

Our sources say the car has stronger X-DNA than its predecessor.

Compared to the current E84 X1, the next X1 abandons its long flat hood for a more rounded nose, similar to the 2 Series Active Tourer. The hood is also more sculpted while the front fascia gets more aggressive in looks. Taking a cue from the latest BMW models, the new F48 X1 also gets the sleeker headlights that end in the kidney grille. The iconic grille is also more prominent with thicker chrome frame.

Larger air intakes with chrome inserts round up the sporty front-end.

On the side of the car, we will see the Air Breathers that are now part of the BMW’s DNA. The character line is also more prominent running across the entire car separating the shapes and creating a 3D look.